Chapter Ten
Josie brought up thesubject of making meals for people to take with them, and she and Myrtle came up with a plan.Either the men could bring their own dishes, or they could put soup in a jar, or they could wrap a sandwich in a piece of paper.They had baskets they could line with cloth as well, but they would have to charge extra for those, and the men would get some of their money back when they returned the items clean.They could even trade with a local Athabascan tribe for baskets, as the native people’s baskets were far superior to any others they could get locally.
With a plan in place, Josie carefully wrote on the chalkboard with the day’s menu that they could accommodate taking food out of the bakery.
That weekend, Jack and Josie walked to meet up with the local tribe and trade for baskets.Jack and Josie reached the river bend by midmorning.A small Athabascan camp stood back from the bank among the spruce—summer shelters, light and open, with racks nearby where fish would hang later in the season.
Jack had explained that the tribe moved around, and they had different winter homes than they used in the summer.He’d told her she should stay quiet unless she was spoken to, so as not to come across as rude to the tribe.
They did not call out right away.Jack set their pack down where it could be seen, and they waited.After a moment, a man stepped forward from the trees, then a woman, both watching them with calm, assessing eyes.
Jack nodded.“Morning,” he said simply.
The man returned the nod.A few words were exchanged.Josie stayed quiet, her hands folded, her gaze respectful.
When the purpose of their visit was clear, the woman gestured toward a grouping of baskets set on a folded hide near the shelter.Josie felt a small catch in her breath.They were finer than she had expected—made of spruce root, tightly coiled.Some were shallow and wide for berries, others deeper, suited for carrying or storage.A few bore subtle patterns worked into the weave, darker roots forming quiet lines.
Josie knelt to look more closely, careful not to touch without invitation.The woman crouched beside her and lifted one basket, turning it so Josie could see the rim.
“Strong,” the woman said.
Josie nodded.“For berries,” she replied, then gestured gently.“And bread.”
The woman smiled faintly at that.
Jack opened their pack and laid out what they had brought: a large sack of flour, carefully measured; a twist of tea; several bars of soap wrapped in paper; a length of red cloth folded neatly.He set each item down and then waited.
There was no haggling in the way Jack had once imagined trade to be.Instead, there was a pause while the Athabascans considered the goods, spoke quietly among themselves, and weighed usefulness against need.At last, the woman selected several baskets and set them between Jack and Josie.
Jack nodded again.“That’s fair.”
The woman inclined her head, agreement settled.The exchange was made, hands moving calmly, deliberately.
Before they parted, the woman touched the shallow basket and said something else, slower this time.Josie understood enough to catch the meaning: Don’t pick everything.Leave some.
Josie met her eyes.“We do,” she said.“Always.”
That earned a second, warmer smile.
They left the way they had come, without ceremony.As they walked back upriver, Josie carried some of the baskets cradled against her chest, while Jack carried several more.
“They’re beautiful,” she said quietly.
Jack glanced at her.“They’ll last.”
“Thank you for taking me to trade with them.I wouldn’t have known what to do on my own.”
“I don’t want you to try going on your own.If you need more, we’ll go together.”
“Are they violent?”
He shook his head.“Not at all.They are people who rely on trade networks.I just wouldn’t like you to venture that far on your own.Wildlife on the way there would be a greater risk to you.”
“I would like to get a large basket to carry the baby in when my time is closer.”She looked down at one of the baskets she carried.“They do beautiful work.”
“We’ll go back at the end of summer then.I’m sure they’ll have something that will suit your tastes well.”He looked at her for a moment.“Will you take the baby to work with you?”
She shook her head.“Maggie is taking care of all the babies.I may try to make it so I only work half days or something because I don’t want to have to leave work to nurse it.We’ll see how it works out.”
